Poland is to choose between the Boeing AH-64E Apache Guardian and Bell AH-1Z Viper to fulfil its attack helicopter requirement. Poland’s defense minister says his ministry shortlisted two offers submitted by Boeing and Bell for the country’s forthcoming acquisition of new combat helicopters.
“We have two offers on the table with regards to combat helicopters, the offer of Boeing and the offer of Bell, and we will select the most favorable offer. We want such weapons to be acquired by the Polish Armed Forces as soon as possible,” Błaszczak was quoted in a statement released by the Ministry of National Defence.
Poland is in the midst of a helicopter recapitalisation effort to replace its Warsaw Pact-era inventory, with the recent emphasis having been on acquiring the Sikorsky S-70i Black Hawk as a new special forces type to replace its ageing Mil Mi-8/17 ‘Hip' platforms, as well as Leonardo AW101 Merlin anti-submarine warfare helicopters to replace the Mil Mi-14 ‘Haze'. With the announcement from Błaszczak, the emphasis shifts to replacing the Mil Mi-24s.
Poland plans to procure new combat helos for the country’s military under its Kruk (Raven) program, replacing the outdated, Soviet-designed Mil Mi-24 fleet. Warsaw is expected to buy about 32 new helos. The estimated value of the acquisition was not disclosed.
Other players who have expressed interest in supplying their aircraft to Poland include Airbus and Leonardo. However, with Poland’s military procurements over recent years visibly shifting toward direct purchases of American weapons, the two European groups were excluded on the Kruk program’s shortlist.
